Yoshiko Jo became a chapter coordinator for Medals4Mettle in 2012. She was an avid runner, motivator, pacer and friend to so many. She BQ’d 120 times, ran 530 miles in 10 days and raced 100 milers like they were nothing. She donated and awarded countless medals and launched one of our first international chapters with her connections and time spent in Japan. Over a year ago she was diagnosed with Glioblastoma and lost her battle this past weekend. Below is a tribute message from North Dakota Chapter Coordinator Lee Hoedl.
It has been said, “Don’t ever be jealous of others’ success. If you can’t win a race, help the person in front of you break the record. Your candle doesn’t lose its light by lighting another.”
Take a moment to imagine a person who not only wins the races and breaks records while at the same time graciously helps each person to their own record and finish line.
Take a moment to imagine a candle that no matter how long it is lit, it never diminishes and miraculously grows greater in its brightness. That is my friend Yoshiko Jo.
I met Yoshiko Jo years ago when Medals4Mettle was a fledgling organization and a warm emerging thought. We have communicated countless times via email and Facebook over these many years and hope to meet in person someday. We both, along with all of our M4M colleagues, are dedicated to the organization’s mission: “Someone is in a tougher race than you right now.” We are both endurance athletes and dedicated to a deep love for the indomitable spirit of humankind. We reach out each week, each month, each day to help elevate the spirit in those young (and older) lives that are struggling in the race for their very life.
As the Medals4Mettle Japan Chapter Coordinator and an ambassador of goodwill, Yoshiko Jo not only garners donated endurance medals for patients worldwide, but also actively dedicates her time to make dental sets and snack packs for the homeless. According to our dear and mutual friend, Yoshie Yabu, she also gives her accumulated race t-shirts to people on the street. Countless race t-shirts and endurance medals donated to inspire those “in a tougher race” than any of us. Little did Yoshiko Jo and I ever consider the one “in a tougher race” could be one of us.
It wasn’t that long ago that I didn’t hear from Yoshiko Jo personally and soon discovered news of her aggressive brain tumor from her Facebook page, updated by her sister. It was then that this great endurance runner and outstanding human being began running the race of her life. Sadly but peacefully, her last official finish line was Saturday, July 20, 2024. Gone too soon.
If you had ever crossed paths with Yoshiko Jo, on or off a race course, you would instantly recognize her gentle spirit and contagious smile was as if you had been touched by an angel. I literally felt that very presence in every email and text message. She was inspirational lightning in a bottle; a spiritual perfume that followed a person throughout the entire day.
As Senior Lecturer at Swarthmore College, she had great consideration for her students that extended beyond the classroom setting. She was always there to bridge the gap between the classroom learning and the experiential journey of each student.
My friend Yoshiko Jo was always dedicated to help every person break their personal records and achieve their personal dreams. As a pacer of countless endurance races, she celebrated the success of each life that crossed the finish line and achieved an item on their own bucket list.
As a figurative candle in this life, Yoshiko Jo burned brighter than anyone I have known… and I never met her in person. She was a flame that others needing personal motivation would gravitate themselves toward to nurture their spirit, their mind, and their dreams. She was a humble bonfire of inspiration for which so many people and endurance runners could warm themselves.
